Device for changing grids from successive flat arrangement to parallel perpendicular arrangement

ABSTRACT

An orientation device for changing an article, such as a battery grid, having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof. The device has first and second conveyor mechanisms extending away from the input end. The first conveyor mechanism extends in a first direction and is aligned with the lugs on the grid and is adapted to engage and transport the lugs for movement in the first direction. The second conveyor mechanism is generally below the first conveyor mechanism and extends away from the input end in a downwardly sloping, second, direction defining an acute angle to the first direction. The second conveyor mechanism is aligned with the generally flat body portion of the grid and is adapted to engage and transport the trailing edge of the flat body portion for movement in the second direction so that the flat body portion is supported from the position adjacent the input end wherein the grid is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent the output end wherein the grid becomes vertically aligned after which the grid is supported solely by the lugs on the first conveyor mechanism.

t States Meschke et a1.

aterrt 91 July 31, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR CHANGING GRIDS FROM SUCCESSIVE FLAT ARRANGEMENT TO PARALLEL PERPENDICULAR ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventors: Harry H. Meschke, Portage; William J. Stewart, Galesburg, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 145,850

[52] US. Cl. 198/33 AD, 198/131, 198/165 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney-Wbodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [5 7 ABSTRACT An orientation device for changing an article, such as a battery grid, having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof. The device has first and second conveyor mechanisms extending away from the input end. The first conveyor mechanism extends in a first direction and is aligned with the lugs on the grid and is adapted to engage and transport the lugs for movement in the first direction. The second conveyor mechanism is generally below the first conveyor mechanism and extends away from the input end in a downwardly sloping, second, direction defining an acute angle to the first direction. The second conveyor mechanism is aligned with the generally flat body portion of the grid and is adapted to engage and transport the trailing edge of the flat body portion for movement in the second direction so that the flat body portion is supported from the position adjacent the input end wherein the grid is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent the output end wherein the grid becomes vertically aligned after which the grid is supported solely by the lugs on the first conveyor mechanism.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnJuw 1 ms SHEET 2 BF 4 PATENIEUJm 3 I I915 SHEEI 3 OF 4 IIIIII DEVICE FOR CHANGING GRIDS FROM SUCCESSIVE FLAT ARRANGEMENT TO PARALLEL PERPENDICULAR ARRANGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an orientation device for generally flat objects and, more particularly, relates to a grid orientation device for changing battery grids having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention arose as a solution to a problem in the handling of grids for storage batteries and, more particularly, in the removal thereof from a suitable processing machine, such as a drying oven or a grid pasting machine. However, it is contemplated that the present invention is also applicable in instances for feeding other types of platelike articles, particularly those having sidewardly extending lugs or ears thereon, to devices requiring the platelike articles to be delivered at the input thereof in a vertically aligned arrangement.

In the manufacture of storage batteries, for example, the battery plate grids are normally filled with a suitable paste and are then subjected to further processing steps. Such processing normally includes one or more exposures to a drying oven, slitting of the plates, buffing of the lugs or trimming of the lugs. Since all of these steps involve transferring of the pasted grids from one processing device to another, each of these steps involves the necessity of handling the grids and consequent subjection to bumping, shock, vibration, rattling against transfer equipment or against each other with consequent possibilities of dislodging or loosening some of the paste within the grid. Likewise, there is often involved in some or all of these transfer steps the necessity of temporarily storing a quantity of grids between machines in order to compensate for variations in the rate of handling of such grids by individual machines including the necessity of temporarily stopping one machine for repair or further adjustment. Thus, in many instances, it is desirable to receive the pasted battery grids, either from the pasting machine or from a drying oven, in a successive flat end-to-end horizontal arrangement with respect to each other and change them into a successive upright vertical arrangement with respect to each other. Such successive upright vertical arrangement may be utilized either for storage purposes as aforesaid or as the feeding orientation for the next processing machine. In view of the relative delicacy of such pasted grids, whether fresh from the pasting machine or discharged from a drying oven, it is necessary to handle said grids as gently as possible to minimize damage thereto.

A variety of devices have been previously known and utilized for this general purpose but have been only partially satisfactory and in pursuance of a continuing effort to improve the art it was desired to provide an improved grid orientation device for use as aforesaid which will handle such pasted grids rapidly, smoothly and uniformly and with a minimum of damage thereto.

Therefore, the objects of this invention include:

1. To provide a grid orientation device wherein the grids are transferred from a successive flat horizontal arrangement to a successive upright vertical arrangement.

2. To provide a grid orientation device wherein the tfansfer of the grids from a successive flat horizontal arrangement to a successive upright vertical arrangement occurs without dislodging paste from the grids.

3. To provide a grid orientation device which is reliable, efficient, and economical to manufacture.

4. To provide a grid orientation device, as aforesaid, which is particularly adaptable to handling either light or thin grids or heavy or thick grids without subjecting the grids to abnormal stresses or shocks to cause them to bend or break or have paste dislodged therefrom.

5. To provide a grid orientation device, as aforesaid, which will permit a storage of the grids between a pair of processing machines in order to compensate for variations in the rate of handling of such grids by the individual machines.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a top view of the grid orientation apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- --VIII of FIG. I; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 1.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words up and down will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words frontwardly and rearwardly" will refer to the direction that the grids move through the device, frontwardly being from left to right as illustrated in FIG. 1. The words left and right will refer to the left and right sides of the device as illustrated in FIG. 1 where viewed from thedownstream or output end thereof. The words in and out will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing an orientation device for changing a series of plate-like members, such as battery grids, having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs or ears extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof. The orientation lugs on the platelike member and adapted to engage and transport the lugs for movement in the first direction;

b. second conveyor means below the first conveyor means and extending away from the input end in a downwardly sloping, second, direction to define an acute angle to the first direction.

c. The second conveyor means is aligned with the flat body portion and is adapted to engage and transport the flat body portion for movement in the second direction so that the flat body portion is supported from a position adjacent the input end wherein the platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent the output end wherein the platelike member finally becomes vertically aligned after which the platelike member is supported solely by the lugs on the first conveyor means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A platelike member or grid orientation device (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises a frame 11 having a plurality of upright leg members 12 for supporting a pair of horizontally spaced and parallel side walls 13 and 14 which are secured thereto and extend therebetween as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A main drive shaft 16 is joumalled to the side walls 13 and 14 by any convenient bearing means (not illustrated). The drive shaft 16 extends horizontally between and outwardly beyond each of the side walls 13 and 14. A sprocket 17 is secured to the shaft 16 adjacent the left end thereof and is aligned with a sprocket l8 fixed to the output shaft 19 of any conventional driving means, such as an electric motor (not illustrated). The sprocket 18 is connected to the sprocket 17 by an endless chain 21, for supplying a rotative drive to the shaft 16.

A shaft 22 is rotatably joumalled in any convenient bearings (not illustrated) and extends between the side walls 13 and 14. An elastomeric, as rubber, roller 23 is secured to the shaft 22 and is rotatable therewith. A sprocket 24 is fixedly secured to the shaft 22 adjacent one end of the rubber roller 23. The sprocket 24 is radially aligned with a sprocket 26 fixedly secured to the shaft 16 and an endless chain interconnects the sprocket 24 to the sprocket 26 so that a driving rotation of the shaft 16 will cause a driving rotation of the rub ber roller 23. A second elastomeric, as rubber, roller 28 is fixedly secured to a rotatable shaft 29 which is journalled between conventional hold-down devices 31 and 32 secured to the side walls 13 and 14 for urging the rubber roller 28 into engagement with the rubber roller 23. One such hold-down device 32 (FIG. 2) comprises a base plate (not illustrated) secured to the side wall 14 and has a rod 33 threaded at the upper end extending upwardly therefrom with a spring 34 telescoped thereover. A bearing member (not illustrated) for holding the end of the shaft 29 is slidably mounted on the rod 33 and the spring is compressed between the bearing member and a nut 36. A tightening of the nut 36 will increase the spring pressure on the bearing member and the engagement of the rubber roller 28 with the rubber roller 23.

The side walls 13 and 14 are held in fixed position with respect to each other by means including the cross rods 40, 41 and 42 (FIGS. 6 and 7). A pair of screws 43 and 44 (FIG. 1), which have right-hand threads on one end and left-hand threads on the other end thereof, are rotatably supported in bearings 46 and 47, respectively, upon and between the opposing surfaces of the side walls 13 and 14 so that their axes preferably lie in the same horizontal plane with the axes of the cross rods 41 and 42.

A pair of similar, elongated guide plates 48 and 49 are disposed between the side walls 13 and 14 and are parallel therewith. Two pairs of sleeves 51 and 52 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) are mounted respectively on the opposing sides of the guide plates 48 and 49, respectively, near the lower edges thereof, one pair of sleeves being axially aligned with the other pair for slideably receiving the cross rods 41 and 42. The screws 43 and 44 (FIG. 3) are threadedly received through threaded collars 53 and 54 affixed in suitable openings in the guide plates 48 and 49, respectively. Accordingly, simultaneous rotation of the screws 43 and 44 effects simultaneous movement of the guide plates 48 and 49 toward and away from each other. A crank 56 is mounted upon the extended leftward end of the screw 43 for effecting rotation of the screw 43. A pair of sprockets 57 and 58 are mounted upon and rotatable with the screws 43 and 44, respectively, preferably midway between the ends thereof and are interconnected by an endless chain 59. Accordingly, rotation of the screw 43 results in a corresponding rotation of the screw 44.

A shaft 61 is rotatably joumalled in bearings 60 and extends between the side walls 13 and 14 through openings (FIG. 4) in the guide plates 48 and 49. The right end of the shaft 61 (FIG. 4) projects outwardly from the side wall 14 and has a sprocket 62 fixedly secured thereto and rotatable therewith. The sprocket 62 is radially aligned with a sprocket 63 on the right end of the shaft 16 and the two sprockets 62 and 63 are interconnected by an endless chain 64. The shaft 61 has an elongated key 66 (FIG. 4) thereon and sprockets 68 and 69 are mounted on the keyed portionJThe keyed interconnection between the shaft 61 and the sprockets 68 and 69 to rotate whenever the shaft 61 is driven for rotation by the interconnection to the shaft 16. The sprockets 68 and 69 each have an annular groove 71 and 72, respectively, therein and each is adapted to receive a yoke member 73 and 74. The yokes 73 and 74 are fixedly secured to the guide plates 48 and 49, respectively, by screws 76. Thus, when the screws 43 and 44 are caused to rotate to move the guide plates 48 and 49 toward and away from each other, the yoke member 73 and 74 will cause the sprockets 68 and 69 to slide on the keyed portion 66 of the shaft 61.

A shaft 77 is rotatably journalled in bearings 78 fixed to the side walls 13 and 14, respectively, and extends between the walls 13 and 14. A sprocket 79 is fixedly mounted on the left end (FIG. 5) of the shaft 77. The sprocket 79 is radially aligned with a sprocket 81 mounted on the left end of the shaft 61 and the sprockets 79 and 81 are connected by an endless chain 82. The shaft 77 has an elongated key 83 extending therealong between the side walls 13 and 14. A pair of sprockets 84 and 86 are mounted on the shaft 77 and are rotatable therewith as well as being slideable axially with respect thereto. Each sprocket 84 and 86 is provided with a groove 87 for receiving a yoke member 88 therein which is fixed to one of the guide plates 48 or 49 by screws 89. Thus, a corresponding movement of the guide plate 48 and 49 toward or away from each other by reason of a rotation of the screws 43 and 44, the sprockets 84 and 86 will slide along the shaft 77 in response to such movement.

A pair of shafts 91 and 92 are rotatably journalled in bearings 93 and 94, respectively, attached to the guide plates 48 and 49 near the top edge thereof. A pair of transfer wheels 96 and 97 are each secured to a respective shaft 91 and 92 and are rotatable therewith. The transfer wheels each have a plurality of notches 98 therein as illustrated in FIG. 2. A sprocket 99 is secured to the shaft 91 upon which the transfer wheel 96 is mounted and the sprocket 99 is radially aligned with the sprocket 84 on the shaft 77. An endless chain 101 interconnects the sprocket 99 to the sprocket 84. Similarly, a sprocket 102 is secured to the shaft 92 upon which the transfer wheel 97 is mounted. The sprocket 102 is radially aligned with the sprocket 86 on the shaft 77. An endless chain 103 interconnects the sprocket 86 to the sprocket 102.

A first conveyor mechanism 104 comprises a pair of parallel endless chains 106 and 107, each movably secured'to one of the guide plates 48 and 49. More specifically, a sprocket 108 is secured to an upper corner of the guide plate 49 adjacent the upstream or input end thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2. Similarly, a sprocket 109 is rotatably secured to the guide plate 49 adjacent an upper corner thereof at the downstream or output end thereof. An idler sprocket 111 is rotatably secured to the guide plate 49 intermediate and below the sprockets 108 and 109 and the sprocket 111 is radially aligned with each of the sprockets 108 and 109. Further, each of the sprockets 108, 109 and 111 are radially aligned with the sprocket 69 fixed to the shaft 61. The endless chain 107 engages each of the sprockets 108, 109, 111 and 69. The upper reach of the chain 107 extending between the sprockets 108, 109, extends generally horizontally. Further, the drive for the endless chain 107 is provided through the shaft 61 which in turn is driven through the endless chain 64 by the drive shaft 16.

Similarly, a sprocket 112 (FIG. 1) is rotatably mounted to the guide plate 48 adjacent an upper corner thereof and is axially aligned with the sprocket 108. A sprocket 113 is rotatably mounted to the guide plate 48 in an upper corner thereof and is axially aligned with the sprocket 109. An idler sprocket 114 (FIG. 1) is rotatably mounted to the guide plate 48 and is radially aligned with the sprockets 112, 113 and the sprocket 68 secured to the shaft 61. Further, the sprocket 114 is axially aligned with sprocket 111. The endless chain 106 is engaged with each of the sprockets 68, 112, 113 and 114 in an identical manner to theendless chain 107. The endless chains 106 and 107 are each driven at the same lineal speed by the shaft 61'.

A second conveyor mechanism 115 comprises a shaft 116'journalled in bearings 117 and 118 which are secured to the walls 13 and 14 (FIG. 6). A sprocket 119 is secured to the shaft 116 and'is rotatable therewith. The sprocket 119 is radially aligned with a sprocket 121 fixedly secured to the shaft 61. An endless chain 122 connects the sprockets 119 and 121. Thus, a driving of the shaft 61 will effect a driving of the shaft 116 by the endless chain 122 interconnecting the sprockets 119 and 121.

A pair of horizontally spaced plates 123 and 124 (FIG. 7) are pivotally secured to the shaft 116 by hearing members 126 and 127, respectively. The horizontal spacing between the plates 123 and 124 is maintained by a pair of cross bars 128 and 129 fixedly secured thereto. The plates 123 and 124 are connected together by a cross piece 130 at an end thereof remote from the bearing members 126 and 127. A shaft 131 is rotatably mounted in bearing members 132 and 133,

"- which bearing members are secured to the cross piece 130. A pair of sprockets 136 and 137 are secured to the outboard ends of the shaft 131. The sprocket 136 is radially aligned with a sprocket 138 fixedly secured to the shaft 116. Similarly, the sprocket 137 is radially aligned with a sprocket 139 fixedly secured to the shaft 116. Endless chains 141 and 142 interconnect the sprocket pairs 136, 138 and 137, 139, respectively. If needed, an idler sprocket 143 rotatably mounted to a bracket 144, which bracket is fixedly secured to the plate 124 by a plurality of screws 146, may be provided in order to tighten the chains 142. A similar idler pulley structure 147 (FIG. 1) axially aligned with the sprocket 143 may be provided for tightening the chain 141.

The upper reaches of the endless chains 141 and 142 are inclined to the upper reaches of the endless chains 106 and 107 to define an acute angle therebetween. The angle of inclination of the endless chains 141 and 142 is regulated by any convenient, conventional, bracket structure, such as the structure 148 (FIG. 7) which comprises a pair of overlapped plates 149 and 151 with one of the brackets 151 having a pair of elongated slots therein permitting the sliding movement of bolts 152 therein. The bracket 149 is secured to the cross bar 128 and the bracket 151 is secured to cross bar 40. A tightening of the bolt 152 will clamp the brackets 149 and 151 to lock the assembly at the desired angle of inclination.

At the upstream or input end of the orientation device 10, a plate centering mechanism 156 is provided for centering the platelike members G prior to their entry into the orientation mechanism 10. The plate centering mechanism 156 comprises a pair of guide structures 157 and 158 secured to the frame 11. The guide mechanism 157 is identical to the guide mechanism 158 except that the guide mechanism 158 is a mirror image of the guide structure 157. The guide structure 157 will be described in detail and the corresponding components of the guide structure 158 will have the same reference numerals for corresponding parts except the suffix A" will be added thereto.

A bracket 161 is secured to the frame 11 and extends outwardly to the left therefrom. A bearing housing 162 is secured to the bracket 161. An angle gear housing 163 (FIG. 8) is secured to the bearing housing 162 at a location thcrebelow. The angle gear housing 163 has an input shaft 164 therein and the gearing contained in the housing 163 interconnects the input shaft 164 to the output shaft 166 which extends through and is supported by the bearing housing 162. A sprocket 167 is fixedly secured to the input shaft 164 andis radially aligned with the sprocket 168 secured to the left end of the main drive shaft 16.

A lever arm 169 is pivotally secured to the upper wall of the bearing housing 162. A further bearing housing 171 is secured to the outer end of the ,lever 169 by a plurality of screws 172. The bearing housing 171 rotatably supports a vertically oriented shaft 173. A

sprocket 174 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 173 and is radially aligned with a sprocket 176 secured to the shaft 166. An endless chain 177 interconnects the sprockets 174 and 176.

An enlarged wheel 178 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 173. Thus, a driving of the drive shaft 16 will effect a driving of the wheel 178 through the drive provided by the sprockets 168, 167, 176 and 174.

The lever arm 169 may be locked by a locking mechanism 181 in one of seyeral positions, such as the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 1. The locking mechanism 181 comprises a plate 182 which is secured to the bracket 161 and projects outwardly from the bracket 161 at an acute angle (see FIG. 1). A lever arm 183 is pivotally secured to the upper end of the plate 182 by a pin 184. The lever arm 183 has an elongated slot 186 therein which receives a bolt 187 secured to the lever arm 169. Thus, the lever arm 169 may be pivoted about the axis of the shaft 166 so that the wheel 178 is moved to the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 1, after which the bolt 187 may be tightened to clamp the lever arm 183 to the lever arm 169.

The lineal speed of the periphery of the wheel 178 is preferably identical to the lineal speed of a supply conveyor 188 which supplies the platelike members to the input end of the orientation device. Thus, a platelike member G will be guided by the wheels 178 and 178A so as to be centered prior to entry into the nip between the rubber rollers 23 and 28.

OPERATION Although the operation of the mechanism described above will be understood from the foregoing description by skilled persons, a summary of such description is now given for convenience. The following description will refer to platelike members in the form of battery grids having a generally flat body portion F and a pair of lugs L extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof.

When a grid G is ejected from a grid casting machine, for example, and it is desired to deliver the grid to the grid pasting machine, the grid G is presented to the input end of a grid orientation device which changes the grids from a successive flat horizontal arrangement to a successive upright vertical arrangement.

The shaft 19 (FIG. 2) is driven by an electric motor (not illustrated),which drives, through an endless chain 21, the main drive shaft 16 of the gridorientation device 10. The rubber roller 23 is driven for rotation and, due to the frictional engagement therewith of the rubber roller 28, the rubber roller 28 is likewise driven for rotation.

The endless chain 64 connecting the sprockets 63 and 62 on the main drive shaft 16 and the shaft 61, respectively, provides a rotating drive to the shaft 61. Accordingly, the shaft 77 is driven by the endless chain 82 connection with the sprockets 79 and 81 so that the transfer wheels 96 and 97 are driven through the endless chain connections 101 and 103.

The endless chains 106 and 107 are driven by the sprockets 68 and 69 on the shaft 61. The chains 141 and 142 are driven by the endless chain 102 interconnecting the sprockets 119 and 121 on the shafts 116 and 61, respectively.

Accordingly, a grid G is first engaged by the guide mechanisms 157 and 158, particularly the wheels 178 and 178A to cause a centering of the grid G prior to its entry into the input end of the grid orientation device 10. Since the peripheral speed of the wheels 178 and 178A is equal to the lineal speed of the supply conveyor 188, the grid G will be shifted either leftwardly or rightwardly to align same with the nip between the rubber rollers 23 and 28 and also align the lugs L with the upper reaches of the endless chains 106 and 107. The grid G will be pulled from the conveyor 188 by the rubber rollers 23 and 28 due to the fact that the rubber roller 23 is driven for rotation. The lugs L will thereaf ter be engaged and supported by the upper reaches of the endless chains 106 and 107. The flat body portion P will be engaged and supported by the upper reaches of the endless chains 141 and 142.

For the best operation, the lineal speed of the upper reach of the endless chains 106 and 107 will be slightly less than the component of the lineal speed of the upper reach of the downwardly inclined endless chains 141 and 142 which is parallel to the upper reach of the endless chains 106 and 107. Accordingly, the trailing edge of a grid which will be engaged by the endless chains 141 and 142 will move forwardly and downwardly at a slightly greater speed than the lugs engaged by the endless chains 106 and 107 so that by the time the lugs L reach the output end of the grid orientation device, the trailing edge of the grid will be essentially in a vertical aligned position below the lugs. By proper choice of the relative horizontal speeds of the conveyors, both ends of the grids remain on their respective chains without slipping or sliding, and consequent shaking, bumping or vibration, of the grids on the conveyor chains or against each other.

As the grid G is moved frontwardly, the flat body portion F becomes more and more vertically inclined until at a position adjacent the output end thereof, the grid G is supported solely by the lugs L on the upper reaches of the endless chains 106 and 107. When the grid G reaches the transfer wheels 96 and 97, the lugs L are received in the recesses 98 and the grid G is lifted from the endless chain 106 and 107 and delivered to an output conveyor mechanism 189 for transporting the grids away from the output end of the orientation device 10.

If wider grids are to be delivered to the grid orientation device 10, the grid centering mechanism 156 will have to be adjusted so that the spacing between the wheels 178 and 178A is equal to the maximum width of the wider grid G, usually the maximum width between the outer ends of the lugs L. The hand crank 56 will have to be utilized in order to rotate the screws 43 and 44 to effect a separation of the guide plates 48 and 49. The guide plates 48 and 49 are separated until the upper reaches of the endless chains 106 and 107 become properly' aligned with the lugs L on the wider grids G. It is, of course, to be recognized that if narrower grids are to be provided, the reverse of the above procedure is'to be followed.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. An orientation device for changing a series of platelike members having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof, comprising:

first conveyor means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced movable conveyor elements and first driving means therefor, said conveyor elements extending away from said input end in a first direction, said first conveyor means being aligned with said lugs on said platelike member and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction;

second conveyor means comprising a movable conveyor member positioned between said pair of conveyor elements and second driving means therefor, said conveyor member extending in a downwardly sloping second, direction defining an acute angle to said first direction, said conveyor member being aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said fiat body portion is supported from a position adjacent said input end wherein said platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent said output end wherein said platelike member becomes vertically aligned, after which said platelike member is supported solely by said lugs on said conveyor elements; and

centering means for aligning said lugs on said platelike member with said conveyor elements while said platelike element is supported on a supply conveyor.

2. An orientation device according to claim 1, wherein said centering means comprises a pair of horizontally spaced wheels and on opposite sides of said supply conveyor, said wheels being supported for rotation about a vertical axis and being spaced above the plane of said supply conveyor and adapted to engate said lugs on said platelike member to thereby shift said platelike member into alignment with said conveyor elements.

3. An orientation device for changing a series of platelike members having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement to an input thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof, comprising:

first conveyor means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced movable conveyor elements and first driving means therefor, said conveyor elements extending away from said input end in a first direction, said first conveyor means being aligned with said lugs on said platelike member and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction; I second conveyor means comprising a movable conveyor member positioned between said pair of conveyor elements and second driving means therefor, said conveyor member extending in a downwardly sloping, second direction defining an acute angle to said first direction, said conveyor member being aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said 6 flat body portion is supported from a position adjacent said input cnd wherein said platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent said output end wherein said platelike member becomes vertically aligned, after which said platelike member is supported solely by said lugs on said conveyor elements; and

transfer means at the input end of said orientation de vice for transferring said platelike member from a supply conveyor to said first and second conveyor means. i

4. An orientation device according to claim 3, wherein said transfer means includes a pair of pinch rollers rotatably mounted on vertically spaced axes and drive means therefor.

5. An orientation device for changing a series of platelike members having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof, comprising:

first conveyor means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced movable conveyor elements and first driving means therefor, said conveyor elements extending away from said input end in a first direction, said first conveyor means being aligned with said lugs on said platelike memberand adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction;

second conveyor means comprising a movable conveyor member positioned between said pair of conveyor elements and second driving means therefor, said conveyor member extending in a downwardly sloping, second, direction defining an acute angle to said first direction, said conveyor member being aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said flat body portion is supported from a position adjacent said input end wherein said platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent said output end wherein said platelike member becomes vertically aligned, after which said platelike member is supported solely by said lugs on said conveyor elements; and

means for controlling the lineal speed of said conveyor elements driven by said first driving means so that said speed is slower than the parallel component of the lineal speed of said conveyormember driven by said second driving means whereby the trailing edge of said platelike member will be positively moved to a vertically aligned position with said lugs.

6. An orientation device for supporting a series of generally planar battery grid plates each being adapted to receive a paste composition thereinto and having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite side thereof between a successive flat horizontal arrangement at one end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an opposite end thereof, comprising:

first conveyor means having first movable support surface means extending in a horizontally aligned first direction, said first movable support surface means being aligned with said lugs on said battery grid plate and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction;

second conveyor means having second movable support surface means extending in an inclined second direction and defining an acute angle to said first direction, said second movable support surface means aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said flat body portion is supported between a position adjacent the location where said second conveyor means intersects said first conveyor means wherein said battery grid plate is generally horizontally aligned and a position adjacent said opposite end wherein said battery grid plate is vertically aligned,

control means controlling the relative speed of movement between said first movable support surface means and said second movable support surface means to control the movement of said battery grid plate, the lineal speed of said first movable support surface means being so related to the lineal speed of said second movable surface means that the plane of said battery grid plate is moved between said flat horizontal arrangement and said upright vertical arrangement, the movement of said lugs and the trailing edge of said battery grid plate being substantially equal to the respective lineal speed of each of said first and second movable support surface means.

7. An orientation device according to claim 6,

12 wherein said first conveyor means includes adjusting means for adjusting the horizontal spacing between said conveyor elements.

8. An orientation device according to claim 6, wherein said second conveyor means includes adjusting means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said upperreach thereof relative to the upper reach of said conveyor elements.

9. An orientation device according to claim 6, including transfer means at the output end of said orientation device for removing said platelike member from said conveyor elements.

10. An orientation device according to claim 9, wherein said transfer means includes a pair of axially aligned, horizontally spaced, wheels mounted for rotation about horizontal axes, said wheels being adapted to engage said lugs of said platelike member and remove same from said conveyor elements.

11. An orientation device according to claim 6, wherein said first movable support surface means comprises the upper reaches of a pair of horizontally spaced endless chains, and

wherein said second movable support surface means comprises the upper reach of at least one endless chain positioned between said horizontally spaced chains. 

1. An orientation device for changing a series of platelike members having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof, comprising: first conveyor means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced movable conveyor elements and first driving means therefor, said conveyor elements extending away from said input end in a first direction, said first conveyor means being aligned with said lugs on said platelike member and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction; second conveyor means comprising a movable conveyor member positioned between said pair of conveyor elements and second driving means therefor, said conveyor member extending in a downwardly sloping second, direction defining an acute angle to said first direction, said conveyor member being aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said flat body portion is supported from a position adjacent said input end wherein said platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent said output end wherein said platelike member becomes vertically aligned, after which said platelike member is supported solely by said lugs on said conveyor elements; and centering means for aligning said lugs on said platelike member with said conveyor elements while said platelike element is supported on a supply conveyor.
 2. An orientation device according to claim 1, wherein said centering means comprises a pair of horizontally spaced wheels and on opposite sides of said supply conveyor, said wheels being supported for rotation about a vertical axis and being spaced above the plane of said supply conveyor and adapted to engate said lugs on said platelike member to thereby shift said platelike member into alignment with said conveyor elements.
 3. An orientation device for changing a series of platelike members having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement to an input thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof, comprising: first conveyor means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced movable conveyor elements and first driving means therefor, said conveyor elements extending away from said input end in a first direction, said first conveyor means being aligned with said lugs on said platelike member and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction; second conveyor means comprising a movable conveyor member positioned between said pair of conveyor elements and second driving means therefor, said conveyor member extending in a downwardly sloping, second direction definIng an acute angle to said first direction, said conveyor member being aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said flat body portion is supported from a position adjacent said input end wherein said platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent said output end wherein said platelike member becomes vertically aligned, after which said platelike member is supported solely by said lugs on said conveyor elements; and transfer means at the input end of said orientation device for transferring said platelike member from a supply conveyor to said first and second conveyor means.
 4. An orientation device according to claim 3, wherein said transfer means includes a pair of pinch rollers rotatably mounted on vertically spaced axes and drive means therefor.
 5. An orientation device for changing a series of platelike members having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof from a successive flat horizontal arrangement at an input end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an output end thereof, comprising: first conveyor means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced movable conveyor elements and first driving means therefor, said conveyor elements extending away from said input end in a first direction, said first conveyor means being aligned with said lugs on said platelike member and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction; second conveyor means comprising a movable conveyor member positioned between said pair of conveyor elements and second driving means therefor, said conveyor member extending in a downwardly sloping, second, direction defining an acute angle to said first direction, said conveyor member being aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said flat body portion is supported from a position adjacent said input end wherein said platelike member is generally horizontally aligned until a position adjacent said output end wherein said platelike member becomes vertically aligned, after which said platelike member is supported solely by said lugs on said conveyor elements; and means for controlling the lineal speed of said conveyor elements driven by said first driving means so that said speed is slower than the parallel component of the lineal speed of said conveyor member driven by said second driving means whereby the trailing edge of said platelike member will be positively moved to a vertically aligned position with said lugs.
 6. An orientation device for supporting a series of generally planar battery grid plates each being adapted to receive a paste composition thereinto and having a generally flat body portion and a pair of lugs extending laterally outwardly therefrom on opposite side thereof between a successive flat horizontal arrangement at one end thereof to a successive upright vertical arrangement at an opposite end thereof, comprising: first conveyor means having first movable support surface means extending in a horizontally aligned first direction, said first movable support surface means being aligned with said lugs on said battery grid plate and adapted to engage and transport said lugs for movement in said first direction; second conveyor means having second movable support surface means extending in an inclined second direction and defining an acute angle to said first direction, said second movable support surface means aligned with said flat body portion and adapted to engage and transport said flat body portion for movement in said second direction whereby said flat body portion is supported between a position adjacent the location where said second conveyor means intersects said first conveyor means wherein said battery grid plate is generally horizontally aligned aNd a position adjacent said opposite end wherein said battery grid plate is vertically aligned, control means controlling the relative speed of movement between said first movable support surface means and said second movable support surface means to control the movement of said battery grid plate, the lineal speed of said first movable support surface means being so related to the lineal speed of said second movable surface means that the plane of said battery grid plate is moved between said flat horizontal arrangement and said upright vertical arrangement, the movement of said lugs and the trailing edge of said battery grid plate being substantially equal to the respective lineal speed of each of said first and second movable support surface means.
 7. An orientation device according to claim 6, wherein said first conveyor means includes adjusting means for adjusting the horizontal spacing between said conveyor elements.
 8. An orientation device according to claim 6, wherein said second conveyor means includes adjusting means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said upper reach thereof relative to the upper reach of said conveyor elements.
 9. An orientation device according to claim 6, including transfer means at the output end of said orientation device for removing said platelike member from said conveyor elements.
 10. An orientation device according to claim 9, wherein said transfer means includes a pair of axially aligned, horizontally spaced, wheels mounted for rotation about horizontal axes, said wheels being adapted to engage said lugs of said platelike member and remove same from said conveyor elements.
 11. An orientation device according to claim 6, wherein said first movable support surface means comprises the upper reaches of a pair of horizontally spaced endless chains, and wherein said second movable support surface means comprises the upper reach of at least one endless chain positioned between said horizontally spaced chains. 